Thursday, October 30, 2014

2080- This week I want to teach a
little from Luke chapter 9- but let me start [end?] with one last note from my
month in the NYC area.

On this trip there were many
prophetic events- meaning lots of supernatural stuff.

Over the years I have had lots of
these things operate in my ministry- but when you read the blog it’s hard to
include many of these things- because frankly- people think your nuts.

Ok- Daniel- my atheist friend, I
probably spent more time with him than anyone else.

Many of the people I met while
sitting at Burger King were people Danny would introduce me to as they walked
in.

So- in a sense- Danny saw me ‘in
operation’ alot- to be honest I think he liked seeing this stuff.

At the end of my trip- while
doing an off the cuff teaching- quoting and stuff.

Danny stopped me and said ‘John-
I notice when you quote the bible like this- it’s like you go into a
TRANCE’. He said it’s like you’re
actually ‘bringing’ up the pages as you speak.

Now- to some of my Christian
friends the word trance sounds a bit like an occult thing.

Actually the bible talks about
the apostle [Peter?] going into a trance- if I remember right you find the
account in Acts 10- when Peter had the vision of the un-kosher animals coming
down [meaning God was accepting the Gentiles].

The bible speaks of signs and
visions- and a Trance is a higher form of a vision.

Now- I was actually not going into
a Trance- as I just described- but Danny was simply seeing a person testifying
about Christ- under the anointing.

Danny does have a background in
the bible- I could tell as I did my off the cuff teaching- he would add parts
of the story- and ask stuff.

Danny used to say ‘do you know
the word hell is not even found in the bible’.

I would correct Danny about this-
many times.

I even taught him the 3 words used
for hell in the bible [1 from the Old testament- in Hebrew- and 2 in the New
Testament].

I told Danny the most common one
was used by Jesus himself- and it was actually a word that the people of his day
used to refer to the city burn heap- a place outside of the city where stuff
was burned [you know- the image of fire and all].

Danny said ‘hell is separation
from God’ [Atheist?].

I told him that actually is the
best definition- theologically- of hell.

Even though I told Danny- many times-
that he was wrong about the word not being in the bible- yet it never ‘stuck’.

But one day- when teaching the
subject- I quoted a verse from Revelation ‘death and hell were cast into the
lake of fire’.

He then looked at me- and said
‘oh- hell is in the bible’.

I mean he was surprised.

The point is- when the word of
God is spoken [quoted- read- etc.] it has power.

Danny saw me ‘in a trance’ many
times during this trip- interacting with him and others- and it was the
testimony- of Jesus- which the bible says is ‘the spirit of prophecy’ that
affected him.

WEDNESDAY-

I’ve been back in Texas for about
a week- and before I came back I felt God was telling me to take- at least- one
week off before jumping back into the routine.

In January of this year- when I
got back from another New Jersey trip- I started some home groups.

At first- I thought I’d give it a
shot- not really sure how well they would do.

To my surprise- they went well.

I do about 5-6 a week- in various
towns- once a month we go [or did?] to San Antonio- so- these were [are] fun.

I never told our groups- but I
committed [to God] that I would do them- for 1 year.

I actually planned on going to
New Jersey at the end of this year- and after some time away- then re-evaluate
the meetings.

So- I’m a bit early- but I’m in
that process now.

I also have heard some
words/verses- that things will change-

Many of the people I worked with
on the streets for years- said ‘we never knew you could do this stuff’.

Many never heard me teach- and
I’m grateful for the compliments.

Why am I debating if I should
keep doing them- besides the fact that I felt I had some words about it.

Most of the people in my meetings
are people I have worked with- for many years- on the streets.

In the gospel of John we read an
account where Jesus fed the people [noble thing- like Timons ministry- a
feeding mission].

Jesus goes to another place- and
the crowds find out where he is- and they follow.

Jesus says ‘are you seeking me
because I fed you? Seek for the true bread’.

In the bible there are many teachings
about helping the poor- the downcast.

But- we also read ‘if a man does
not work- neither should he eat’.

Over the years I have had many
people tell me I’m wasting my time with the homeless.

I always realized that there were
some who were not sincere- but many are true friends- and I don’t devalue that.

But- many who come to the free
food programs- they are simply getting a free meal- and the money they save is
spent on drugs or alcohol.

In these cases- they are like the
ones Jesus rebuked- they didn’t want change- just free food.

Ok- as of now I already decided
that I will only go to the mission/streets- on the days I do meetings.

But- if after this time of
re-thinking stuff- if I don’t do the meetings any more- then I think my years
on the streets will be over.

This would not be easy at all for
me- and I’m not sure yet if this is what I will do.

These past few days I have gone
back and forth on this- reading- praying.

Some mornings I can’t wait to get
back in the routine- others I see a change of lots of things- and am excited
about both options.

As I type- I’m sitting at the
local coffee shop.

Yesterday one of the kids I met
before I took my trip wanted to talk.

I’ve spoken to him a few times [I
actually have another one who bums cigarettes off me! Yesterday I told him
‘last one’- yeah- like being on the streets. Actually in one of my ‘funny home
videos’ I took while in North Bergen- some guy walked up and bummed one when I
was filming- I invited him to sit- I smoked with him- and finished the clip-
when I later reviewed it- that clip never filmed].

Drew asked me about the site and
all [he sees me working on it].

And I did bout a 20 minute
teaching- you know- like I was doing in North Bergen. These are all college
grads- or students- they have asked me if I just teach ‘religion’ only. I say
no- but Philosophy- other subjects- when I engage with these smart kids- in all
these subjects- It opens a door for the ‘religion’ too.

Some of the others who have seen
me come in these past few months never heard me say anything.

So- in a way- even as I
re-evaluate the whole meeting thing- yet- new ones seem to pop up anywhere I
go.

Note- Do me a favor, those who
read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read
them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [FaceBook#]
- I have posted lots. visit- ccoutreach87.wordpress.com- my radio shows.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

SUNDAY MORNING- This week if I start
the meetings back up [I might wait one more week] all I will do is overview my
month in North Bergen- and try and tell the most interesting stuff.

On the trip I made comments on
the pictures- so some of you might be familiar when I re-tell.

Ok- one of the verses [actually a
few] that these past few years I felt were significant about the
teaching/outreach ministry deals with the ‘Princes of Abraham’.

In the bible Abraham had kids-
The first 2 were Ishmael and Isaac.

Ishmael is the father of the Arab
[many are Muslim] people- and Isaac is the head of the Jewish people [and
according to the apostle Paul- Christians are the promised seed].

So- in my teaching I try and
speak into these 3 groups- Jews- Muslims and Christians.

So- one day at Burger king Abe
walked in- he is 99 years old and owns lots of real estate in North Bergen-
worth between 50-100 million [Danny told me].

Danny introduced me to Abe- and
his sweet wife Regina- who is 97.

Regina would walk up to me and
Danny and give us lollipops- it was cute- Danny’s in his 70’s and I’m in my
50’s- but she saw us as kids.

Abe told me his story- he grew up
in Poland and met Regina [also from Poland] when she was 5 years old.

Abe fought with the Russians
against the Nazi’s during WW2 [called a partisan] and he told me he killed many
Nazi’s.

They married in 1945- and came to
the U.S. in 1947.

Abe studied in the Yeshiva
university in Poland [famous school for Jews who study to be Rabbi’s] he and
Regina speak 9 languages- and Abe is well versed in the Torah [the Christian
Old Testament].

Danny told Abe I was a street
preacher- and Abe mentioned some stories from the Torah.

He talked about Hamman- and I
went on and told the story that we find in the book of Esther.

Hamman [I have not read it in
years- so bear with me] was a persecutor of the Jews- and hatched a plan to
execute them- on a gallows.

Esther was one of the wives of
the king- and she was also a Jew- but no one knew [like Regina- she owned a grocery
store in Poland during the war- she provided food for the Catholic church- and
was saved from the Nazi’s by pretending to be Christian].

So- Hamman built the gallows-
hatched a plan to kill the Jews- but Mordechai- a relative of queen Esther- said
to her ‘who knows if you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this’.

He prodded Esther to reveal her
true identity to the king- and to stick up for her people.

She tells the king the plot of
Hamman- and the tables turn- and Hamman himself is hung on the very gallows he
built to kill the Jews.

Now- as I told the story off the
cuff [like jus now] Abe realized I did know the Torah.

I did this with a few other
names/events he mentioned form his years of study.

Abe did ask me if I knew any
other languages- I told him no- but as a bible teacher I have learned some
Hebrew and Greek.

Of course Abe knows Hebrew.

As we talked I tried to think if
I can speak any Hebrew words- sure enough I told Abe ‘I know a few words of
Hebrew’.

I asked Abe ‘What does Yeshua
Hamishia mean’?

Abe told me- it means ‘when
salvation/freedom comes- he will be on a White horse’.

I told Abe that Yeshua- or
Joshua- in Hebrew means Jesus in Greek [The New Testament was written in
Greek].

So the same name is Jesus for
Christians.

The translation I gave is ‘Jesus
is the Christ’.

Now- I don’t know if anyone ever
told Abe this- it’s one of the main points a Christian would share with a Jewish
friend.

I talked a little more about
Isaiah 53- which is a key chapter as well- it is in the Jewish bible- and is
the most clear prophecy about Jesus.

As Abe walked away- he came back
to my table [in the Burger King- which he owns the property].

And he walked up to my table [he
can do what he wants- he and his family never pay for food when they eat here].

And he sang- in Hebrew- a Jewish
blessing over me.

The bible says if you give a cup
of water to a prophet- you get a reward.

In a way Abe received the words I
spoke- he gave ‘a cup of water’ [the blessing] to someone who testified to him
about the Christ- from his own Torah.

[The bible says in the book of
Revelation ‘the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy’].

SUNDAY AFTERNOON-

Ok- Today I saw Cameron for the first time
since I’ve been back- I met Cameron at our halfway house about 2 years ago.

He’s ‘one of my disciples’ [that’s
what he said to my Muslim friend who came around looking for me this month].

Now- he has been in my meetings
this year [by the way- I committed to do the meetings- for one year- it was an
experiment of sorts- and actually went much better than I thought it would-
I’ll talk more about it later].

So- when Cameron left our halfway
house 2 years ago- the next day I went by- and saw he had my old fire dept.
bible open [I donated it to our halfway house] and it was funny- he had it open
and I saw he was reading the psalms- with all the notes I made in it years
earlier].

So- Cameron has been texting me
when I was in North Bergen- telling me his landscaping business is booming- and
he has all types of accounts- making good money.

To be honest- I thought the kid might
have been trying to make me feel good being I was gone [he’s like an adopted
son of sorts].

So- today he showed me all that’s
going on and sure enough- he was telling the truth.

Now- I had a guy- Mason- cut a
tree for me a few months back.

I told the story- he was also one
of the guys that sat in my meeting at another halfway house.

So- he said he cut trees- and I
had him do mine.

He knows his stuff- but uses
[drugs].

So- he never finished the job- I
decided to pay him anyway- and he came back a few days later with his partners.

He never told them I paid him-
and we got into it.

I made up with Mason and he sat in my meetings
again [my ‘fellowship’ is real- some of the guys have gotten into it with me-
or I them- and later we make up- very real stuff].

So- Mason has joined with Cameron
and they are making good money.

As we left church- Mason was
carrying- you guessed it- that same fire dept. bible. [By the way- they never
met before- I knew them both- but they never knew each other- Mason ran into
Cameron on the street when I was gone- and that’s how they hooked up]

Cameron gave it to him [see the
pics- all the pics I’m posting on Facebook relate to these posts].

One of the many verses God gave me while in New Jersey
was ‘Isaiah 43:18 Remember ye not
the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

God requires of us to hear him daily- to be
open to change and new things- conversion is not only a static event [one time
thing] but an ongoing process.

I’m glad I stuck with the kid-
and made up with Mason- they are a good team.

SUNDAY NIGHT-

Just got back from the beach baptism-
I didn’t baptize- but went to a Rock City Church baptism.

We had a good time- the pastor- David-
is a great guy. I’ve talked with him- shared prophetic stuff- he wants me to
fit in more- I’m just supporting him in a way- being pastors need men who have
a background in stuff. So I think that’s my purpose at this time.

I sat at one of the picnic
tables- there are lots of people at a function like this who know stuff about
the bible.

Sometimes when people see me
smoking and stuff- they think I might be someone in need- that’s ok.

A lady came by- she writes- I
gave her my card and talked a bit.

I shared some stuff with the
pastor- he thanked me.

Then there were 2 ladies who sat
by me- as we talked it turned into about a 30 minute meeting.

One of them said ‘I wish I could
quote the bible like that’- I told them that I’ve been doing this for many
years- and it comes over time.

They did know the bible- and were
sincere Christians.

One of the girls realized she
could learn stuff that she has questions about.

I did a teaching [spur of the
moment] on whether or not Christians should obey the Kosher food laws of the
bible.

I did a history of when God first
allowed man to eat meat [after the flood] the various verses in Corinthians and
Romans about the issue.

Many good Christians have questions
on this.

I quoted a lot- gave some
background- in the end I said it’s a mater of grace- your allowed to eat
whatever- but some choose to be vegetarians- and that’s ok.

It was funny- I never planned on
doing a meeting type thing at the baptism- but it worked out well.

On the way to the island I saw
Austin for the first time.

Austin is an Afghanistan vet- who
out of all the kids I work with- he’s in the most trouble [that’s his nick
name].

I just asked Cameron earlier in
the day how he was doing.

He told me bad- he got beat up in
the face with a bat when I was gone- they disfigured him- for life.

He said you wouldn’t even
recognize him.

Austin got stabbed before I left
Texas on this last trip.

I remember the guy who stabbed
him [who I know] as acting strange that day- outside the mission.

I asked him ‘how you doing’- he looked
at me- I could tell he was ready to do something.

He said ‘what did you say’.

I replied ‘I asked how you were
doing Bryan’.

He looked at me and said ‘blessed’. A few minutes later he stabbed Austin- it
made the news that night.

I recognized Austin as he crossed
the street- and yeah- he looks different.

I noticed he took off his
sunglasses for a 2nd- and put them on fast.

He didn’t see me- and I was on the
way to the island.

I’ll try and cover a few more
things this week- sort of like journaling.

As of now- I think I will wait
before I re-start the meetings- I do enjoy them- but I feel I should wait.

It’s not easy for me to not be
busy- so I’ll have to try and settle down some.

Ok- enjoy this update- I might do
1 or 2 more and that should be it.

http://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/black-sabbath-2014.zip
[Black Sabbath drive- to My North Bergen friends- this video is a drive I took
with Cheech in the old town- you can see 91st street and stuff- for
those who moved out of the area long ago- you might like it- I did mention some
names of the old friends from the area as I passed your house’s- see who you
are!]

Note- Do me a favor, those who
read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read
them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [FaceBook#]
- I have posted lots. visit- ccoutreach87.wordpress.com- my radio shows.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

2079- Been back in tx. for a couple
of days- and figured I’d give an update.

My friend Dirk got out of jail
about 2 weeks ago- I wrote his story this year- and wanted to tell the
‘ending’.

Dirk has been a friend for many
years- about 9 months ago he stabbed another friend- almost killed him.

At the time Dirk told a story-
that frankly no one believed [I still don’t by the way].

He said Tennessee was beating him
up- Dirk took a knife out and held it up- Tennessee fell on the knife- twice.

Ok- obviously this didn’t happen.

But- I visited Tennessee in the
hospital and he told me that he was on top of Dirk ‘getting the best of him’
and Dirk stabbed him.

I think this was what happened-
and even though the ‘fell on the knife’ part was a lie- yet it did seem to me
that Dirk had a plausible self-defense.

Now- I kept Dirks dog at my house
for the last 8 months- and had all his stuff- he trusted me to keep his bank
cards and all- I moved money from his account into his jail account- he offered
to at least pay for dog food- I told him I didn’t want a dime.

Now- his lawyer- a public
defender- did go out of his way at times for Dirk- he met me at the pawn shop
when I got Dirk's guitars out- Dirk was afraid he would lose them.

We did a few errands for Dirk
[too many to be honest] and he would contact me when he needed to find a
witness or 2- being I know the guys on the street.

I visited Dirk in jail- he called
me- we kept in touch.

I would ask his lawyer ‘what do
you think- what’s Dirk looking at’- he told me that because of the statement he
made to the police- that it didn’t look good.

Now- Tennessee [the victim] did leave
the state- he wanted nothing to do with it- so the state picked up the charges.

His lawyer would tell me that
Dirk should accept a plea- they offered 6 years- on this charge he would have
to do half before he was up for parole.

His lawyer knew I gave Dirk
advice- so I would tell Dirk ‘I think your lawyer is good- I would listen to
him’.

Now- the lawyer said they would
never offer what Dirk wanted- 2 years.

In the end- he plead to a
misdemeanor assault and got out on time served.

Dirk told me that his lawyer lied
to him about a few things- and Dirk [like me] thought because the victim- who
indeed himself told me that he was beating Dirk up- and he left the state- that
how could the prosecutor go to court when the victim is not even there.

So- the lawyer tried to get Dirk
to take the 6 year plea- then the 2 year plea- and came back 2 weeks later and
he was out.

The lawyer was working with the
prosecutor- I’m sure they did look at some of Dirks past- and maybe decided ‘together’
that the plea was ok.

The problem?

I was right- and Dirk too- the
fact that Tennessee was gone- did indeed affect the case.

All during these months I talked to
Dirk- did tell him what the lawyer told me- and thought Dirk should listen to
the lawyer.

Then one day Tennessee’s brother
came to the mission- he told me the cops were coming by every few days to find
Tennessee.

I even told his lawyer that Tennessee
was gone- as far as I knew.

So- I realized they did indeed
need Tennessee- like I said- and I’m sure his lawyer knew it.

The last time I spoke with Dirk
on the phone- before his trial date- I didn’t say the usual ‘take your lawyers advice’.

No- because I realized he was not
being totally upfront with me- the lawyer- I told Dirk ‘if you are not happy
with the offer- go to trial’.

He took the misdemeanor charge-
and got out.

SATURDAY- I want to try and cover
some of the stuff that happened back here in Texas when I was gone.

I got back Thursday and was going
to take a few days off- but that never seems to happen.

I got with the guys Friday and
today- and will try and tell a few stories.

I noticed when I got up today- I
had a hard time walking- then after I cut the grass and sat down- I couldn’t
stand up.

About 7 years ago I had an injury
at the fire dept.- disc in the back problem [common] but it got so bad the last
year on the job- that I finally had to get it checked [I always wait too long
for stuff like this].

So- the back problem caused nerve
damage to my right leg- and for a few months I couldn’t walk [there’s a name
for it- I don’t remember].

When it happens your whole leg cramps-
but not like a regular cramp- but much worse.

If it happens when your out-
shopping- whatever- you go down [I was worried at times if I felt it coming
on].

So- when I retired I DID NOT TAKE
A MEDICAL RETIREMENT- I already had 25 years in- and as the process goes for
injury leave [which I never took before- only a few days out of 25 years] I
just did it myself- by retiring the normal way.

Usually you would stretch it out
[sue] and get some cash as a ‘bonus’- I never did this.

The city waited about 8 months
before sending me my official ‘thank you for service’ thing- because they
figured I would do the normal thing- and try and get money for the injury- it
was legitimate- and job related.

But- I never did it- I also lost
my health coverage- it was too much to keep [each city- and state are
different- our collective bargaining agreement did not have a good deal when I
retired].

So- I did have things I needed to
get checked for- and treated for- till this day I have done neither.

Without going too long- I thought
I got accepted with the VA a few months ago- and then realized they misread my
income- and turned me down.

I gave them the correct retirement
income- and was accepted.

About 8 months ago I had a letter
from them- thinking I was in- and figured ‘might as well bite the bullet and go
get checked- treated’ [for multiple things].

I opened the letter- and they
said I lied about my income [I’m beginning to think that if you lie- about lots
of stuff- it works out better!]..They went 2 years back and saw I had about
20,000 income from a sort of 401k thing that the fire dept started a few years
before I retired.

I used it as a savings- and
cashed it out in one year.

The VA said it was annual income-
it was not.

As of now I have not even opened the
last letter they sent- I’m assuming [hoping] they got it right.

So- when I woke up today with the
old leg injury- I figured I’d go to the ER [big thing for me] and at least do
something about the leg.

It would be covered under workman’s
comp- the only thing I actually have for coverage- which only applies to this
one injury.

As I sat at the ER- I started
thinking ‘maybe I should tell the doc- take a look at his too- being I’m here’.

Then I thought ‘maybe I’ll ask
him about this other thing’.

Then- as I sat- I decided to just
leave.

This whole insurance thing has
been an issue for me- I was with friend’s today- much healthier than me- they
have disability- insurance- everything [and never really worked] so yes- it
gets me upset.

But- as I hobbled out of the
hospital- I had a few of the guys on that side of town call- and spent most of
the day- yeah- doing ministry.

I texted the guys when I got to
our halfway house- no one home.

Andy was in the Bluff- my side of
town- and I just got home about 10 minutes ago.

A funny thing happened- when I
went to see his brother David- who I do the halfway house with.

Jackie- his girlfriend- who knows
me- said ‘John- you lost weight’ [in a month?] and she asked ‘do you have PTSD’.

David has it- and it reminded me
of what someone said when I first arrived in N.J. - about manic depression.

I told Jackie I have multiple
things- but because of the way the insurance thing worked out- and other stuff-
I have not been treated- for anything.

Jackie said ‘you have it’.

Now- I bring all this up because I
want to say that after I left the ER- and had a full day- with the guys- I felt
good.

Are the physical problems fixed- no.

But I dreaded [feared] having to
start the process- now.

Some of the delays were not of my
own choosing [I had- have? no insurance] now as time goes by you become desensitized.

I do want to cover some of the
other stuff that happened when I was gone- but might do that in the next day or
2.

Some guys relapsed- but others
had some great things happen- I will pick up the meetings I do soon- thought of
maybe taking a few days off.

When I got back I thought ‘maybe
I will cancel one’.

But found out that they don’t want
to cancel it- so I’ll do it.

Today another ministry asked me
to start a new one- on their side of town.

I told the brother yeah- but
think I should wait a while.

Let me end with a funny story- my
last night in North Bergen- I went to say bye to the crew.

I had a ginger ale drink in my
hand- and as I walked away I said ‘hey Billy- you want to finish it’.

He said no thanks.

Hmm?

He never turns down a drink.

He said ‘oh- I thought it was
Beer’.

I said ‘Billy- I have 22 months
[I’ve been saying 20- but I was behind 2 months- I don’t keep track well] sober’.

Billy says ‘Yeah I know- but I
thought because it was your last night- you were celebrating’.

Note- Do me a favor, those who
read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read
them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [FaceBook#]
- I have posted lots. visit- ccoutreach87.wordpress.com- my radio shows.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

On this trip God really ‘spoke’ to me- lots of chapters from
the bible- and lots of prophetic stuff.

But- as things go- stuff happens.

It’s 3 am as I write- Monday morning. Just got up to pray-
and I’m mad- pissed off- but waiting.

Waiting?

Yeah- I’m mad because someone stole from me.

Now- it’s not real big- maybe they needed it.

But it was a special Cross I bought last year- I leave it in
my room in North Bergen- like some other stuff. [Bought it at Saint Patrick’s
cathedral last year- I look at it every morning when I get up]

In Texas I have had this happen- I mean the guys don’t
realize there are some things- collectables- that I look at every day when I
get up.

So- if they are stolen- I know.

So- instead of confronting the person- and getting mad [he
would deny it] you just move on.

The real problem is the last time I was in North Bergen- I
was robbed in Texas [big stuff].

So even though the item was of little monetary value- when
people steal from others- then they can’t trust being out of the house.

Because you have to make sure you hide the valuable stuff [I
now do this in Texas when I leave my house] and it just makes all the other
stuff you’re dealing with harder.

Ok- enough of that.

The next day or 2 I’ll write some of the verses. [Actually-
its 3:40- I think I’ll post it now- because I have a few days left in North
Bergen- and it might keep my other stuff safe. I’m thinking of having to lock
my stuff up in the car every day before I leave- computer and important stuff.
So- stuff like this just makes things harder].

Ok- let me do some real time posting- its 5:30 am- just
finished praying in the yard.

The weather is great- in the 50’s- and praying in the yard
early is a routine for me.

There are multiple reasons why I took this trip on the spur
of the moment.

One was I needed to get away from the Texas streets for a
while.

Why?

A lot of the guys I work with deal with lots of stuff- and
at times things get to you.

I never told this story- but it might help people understand
why a little thing- like a Cross being taken- affects me.

About 3 months ago one of the guys I work with- who has a
history of theft- and to be honest- is a klepto.

Well- he was at my house one day- and about 2 weeks later my
wife told me ‘John- we didn’t want to tell you yet [they know I get mad] but
someone stole Debbie’s purse- and they are using all her credit cards and doing
I.D. theft’.

Ok- she was right- I was mad.

Debbie is my daughter- her car just got wrecked- and now she
not only lost all her i.d.’s- but she was going thru the whole thing- having to
file police reports- me taking her to work- her not having her stuff.

It was a mess.

The main culprit was a guy I help.

He also stole from another friend- they had him on camera
selling stuff at the pawn shop.

He also has a history of I.D. theft.

So- I waited.

Some other friends on the street told me ‘hey- so and so just
bought all new clothes and stuff at the store- he’s all decked out’.

I had more than one person tell me that he did it.

Now- I have helped this guy out- a lot.

One day I had enough.

Another friend told me ‘don’t worry- we’ll get someone to
teach him a lesson’.

I said ‘you don’t have to do it- I will’.

That morning I prayed [it was hard] and I told another
friend ‘I’m going to beat the f.. out of him if I see him’.

I went looking for him- went to the mission- and waited.

He showed up- now- it wasn’t ‘that bad’ [in my mind] but I
did walk up to him- mad- used the F bomb a few times- and almost got into it.

My other friends came out of the mission- heard what
happened- and acted like I hit the guy.

I did not- but it was bad.

The guy- he told a few people that he did not steal my daughter’s
stuff- and one of the guys said he was crying.

Now- after about a week- I dropped it [till this day the
cops have not resolved the case].

And I still help the guy [he’s not allowed at my house any
more].

Others have said ‘John- you let the guys go too far- you
forgive- but they take advantage of you’.

Now- because of incidents like this- you are always worried
about people taking stuff- even if it’s minor stuff.

I had a friend tell me once ‘John- they steal from you-
because they don’t like it when others do well- and they are not’.

Maybe?

I needed to tell this story- so you could see the whole
picture.

One of the reasons I’m in North Bergen- is it gave me a
break from having to worry about the whole theft issue- that has effected both
me and my family- I was getting too mad about that very issue- and now I have
to lock my stuff up for the rest of this trip.

I’ll try and update the next few days- good stuff.

I’ll confront the person in a little while- then be out for
the day.

MONDAY- 3 pm

Had a full day- met a new guy at White Castle- he heard me speaking-
and we talked for about an hour.

He’s a history buff- and we discussed lots of world history-
and church history.

Billy showed up- and I told him I’d meet him after I do my
video across the street.

Today I made the 2nd official teaching video [I
had planned on doing 4] and it’s strange- I haven’t recorded in about 8 years.

I used to record regularly- when I was on radio.

It just so happened that I started a radio [voice/video]
site about 2 months ago- for the purpose of posting my old radio shows.

Then- about a week or so ago I made a video of Nick singing-
a spur of the moment thing.

I am not computer savvy- so- I figured I’ll try and upload
them on Facebook.

That didn’t work- but I managed to put them on my WordPress
site.

So- I thought it would be good to see some videos of me
teaching- in North Bergen.

In the 4 short videos I wanted to cover the whole bible [it
can be done].

I made 2- and as I review the rest of today’s [my battery
died] I might have already finished- I’ll have to see later.

I wanted to stay till Thursday- but as you know- stuff happens.

There are different reasons why people do things- all of us.

I’m obviously not perfect- I have a very bad temper problem.

I just got back- and Nick and Danny saw me a little off the rails
today.

But- I don’t hide my flaws- I try and work on them- and try
and finish the task at hand.

In the old days this whole day would have been ruined.

Actually I kept the normal routine- had a long teaching
session with Danny- did some street ministry- and made the 2nd video.

There are so many chapters I read on this trip- and many prophetic
events- how they fit.

Too many to tell to be honest.

Let me give one example.

I mentioned the other day that an old friend gave me a ring-
from Horace Mann School.

The ring has an emblem of an eternal flame/oil lamp.

So- my atheist friend Danny was the one who told me it was a
biblical image [I at first though it was a Genie lamp].

Now- that day [2 days ago] we talked about the bible and how
there are verses about this.

I have been reading thru Exodus and many other portions of
the bible- these are regular chapters that I started years ago- in order. [so-
out of the few chapters that speak about this- you might only hit 1 every 2-3
years- because I’m not reading straight thru- but maybe 1 Exodus chpater every
day or so]

Sure enough- the chapter the next day was one of the few
that mentions the oil lamp- with a flame that won’t go out [Exodus 27:20-21].

There are many things like this.

I was talking to Danny yesterday- told him I bought a coke
and it said ‘share a coke with Danny’.

I thought it was funny- and said to me it meant I was
supposed to spend some time having fellowship with Danny.

Nick said ‘I got one that said share a coke with John’.

To Nick it meant something- we hang out just about every
day.

Now- some of the things are actually ‘better’ then these few
examples- but there have been many.

Like the Catholic deacon who walked in to Burger King- Danny
said ‘hey- meet John- he’s a street preacher’.

He walked to the other side of the room and sat down-
honestly it seemed rude.

Then he came back- had a paper in his hand and said ‘guess a
number’ he didn’t say from 1 to 10 either.

Now- out of ‘inspiration’ I said ‘I’m a prophet- 6’.

He opened it up- Danny said ‘you got it’.

The deacon listened.

I don’t know if he prayed and did this as a test- either way
it was a sign to Danny and the deacon.

I went to the Catholic mass for 3 Sundays at my old church-
Our Lady of Fatima.

For the past 3 weeks- the main chapters were about God and
his vineyard- these are some of the chapters- images- I use when praying for my
North Bergen friends.

It just so happened that the same images were used during
this time.

I have gotten a lot out of Exodus on this trip.

When I first got into town I read ‘get up into the hill
[another image I use for North Bergen] and BE THERE’.

I felt God was saying ‘just be here’.

Not so much ‘do something’ [though I did lots] but he seemed
to be saying ‘just being here- being with the guys- that has an effect’.

In these same chapters God says ‘build all things after the
pattern that I show you in the mount’.

I felt like God was going to show me some new avenue of
ministry- while here.

I have made about 13 videos this time- something I never did
before.

God tells Moses to get things in place first- so the ark
[the words] will have a format.

I did this by already launching the radio site in Texas- it
was a platform that ‘contained’ the words.

These are just a few examples of things- over the next day
or 2 I’ll try and write more.

Another chapter came from Corinthians [I think 6?] but Paul
said when he came into town there was distress- problems- difficulty- yet he
still completed the mission.

In life- you have to finish the mission.

I have had some Texas friend’s call/text during this time.

They didn’t know when I was coming back- I didn’t know
either.

I felt like 4 weeks was good- if I get back Friday night-
that’s 4 weeks gone from Texas.

Lets see what happens the next day or 2. I plan on leaving
Thursday morning.

There are other things I have not written on- but things I
felt were long term problems about my mom’s situation here in New Jersey.

I can simply give advice- offer help- in the end we all make
our own choices.

But- I have offered- many times- for my mom to move to
Texas- she can even live with me.

These offers have been made.

My sister died over a year ago- she had many problems- I’m
trying to help- do what’s right- but we all make our choices.

I’ have been very uncomfortable about the situation she is
in- for a long time.

We’ll see what happens.

TUESDAY MORNING

Today will be my last day in North Bergen, and I think I
should write about something different.

When I come back home every year- I stay at my mom’s house-
where I grew up as a kid.

For many years my mom and sister lived in a very dysfunctional
home.

My sister Laura- who I loved- was an addict her whole life.

I work with addicts- but the effect of her addiction was worse
than many of the cases I have known- in the sense that she fought every day
with my mom- nonstop.

Because of this it was hard for me to come home over the
years- some years I just did not come.

About 2 years ago I came back- after about 7 years of not being
here [I’ve made the trip more in the last 2-3 years].

For many years I have told my mom if she wants to move to
Corpus Christi I would work it out- at the time I checked into the Methadone
clinic in Texas- meaning I was going to set everything up for my sister to come
too.

And one of the main obstacles was moving the cats- so we
worked out a plan- I would get a vehicle and personally transport her cats.

But- as fate would have it- my sister died in 2013.

It was a shock.

Now- I thought maybe it was time for mom to move- she has no
family in the area any more- my mom and dad have been divorced for years- and
maybe it was time.

At the time she seriously thought of moving- me and Patrick
helped her find homes for the cats- it was a serious thing.

One day Patrick brought 2 new kittens home- cute- but mom
said ‘no more cats- I’m trying to get rid of the ones we have’ Hmm?

About a week later- Cheryl- Pats girl at the time- said
‘He’s never going to get rid of the kittens’.

I realized that it was to Pats benefit- for my mom not to
move.

Patrick is a good person- I never resented that he lives
with my mom I used to drive him to work- and treat him like a brother- he even
calls my mom ‘mom’.

Patrick used to date Laura- at the time they were both
using- and many bad things happened during those years.

Things that addicts do.

About 5-6 years ago I got a call- Patrick overdosed and almost
died.

I prayed for Pat- he made it.

I was very grateful- and he has been clean- doing well for
about 5 years.

Patrick broke up with my sister years ago- but one day asked
her if she would ask my mom if he could stay at the house.

My mom let him move in at the time- and he has been here ever
since.

Now- in NA/AA [Pat is very involved] they teach steps-
openness- honesty- but my experience with many in the movement [I do a halfway
house- take guys to detox- I’m very involved with recovery- I myself am a
recovering alcoholic] mainly in Texas- is many of the guys still have the
mentality of an addict- even when they stop using.

I realized that even though Pat is doing well- he has
settled in living with my mom- and it’s to his benefit for her to not ever
move.

So once again- there are obstacles- for my mom to finish her
life with her family- I have 4 daughters- my wife and a brother and sister in law
all in Texas- and eventually there will be great grandchildren.

The death of my sister was very sad- but in a way it allowed
for my mom to finally make the move.

Now- at one time Patrick lived here- for free. I believe he pays
some rent now.

I know my mom wants me to come back every year- and I
thought maybe it will work out that I will do long term visits back here in North
Bergen.

But- when a non-family member has benefits for things to
stay a certain way- if I’m here- he can’t do the things me might do if I
weren’t here.

One day I went to the yard to pray- and some guy was
sleeping downstairs.

My mom didn’t know- and he acted like he got caught.

I did not tell my mom- but I realized that every so often Patrick
might me letting people stay here- without her knowing [maybe charging?]

While these things are not real bad- they are indeed manipulative-
and not honest.

So- when I’m back here- the longer I stay- the longer Patrick
has to ‘adjust’ whatever things he does.

So- in a way- things happen- not big things- but games- to
maybe make John go home.

Now- this is not the first time- and I usually overlook the games.

Patrick is in his 40’s- and I hoped he would become independent-
get a place- and realize this situation not long term- it’s been going on for
many years now.

One of the addicts you see me with on this trip is disabled-
has no legs.

He has a nice apartment- raises his daughter- and is independent-
yet still using.

In one of the meetings I went to on this trip- I saw one of
the guys who makes every meeting.

I dont know him well- he maybe is about my age.

He spoke one night and said ‘people always tell me I should get
a job’ and he went on and explained the reasons why he has no job.

I love my mom- I love my friends- but our family for years
has tried to have my mom move to Texas.

To be fair- she also works out a deal with Patrick where he
does chores and helps her- so it’s not just a one way street- I realize this.

But I avoided being here for many years- because of what I
explained above.

I do resent the fact that a non family member- who is trying
to get on his feet- sees it to his benefit for my mom to stay here.

And at times has done things – little things- but things
that don’t help.

The best witness- in my mind- for NA is for the people involved
to move on in life- to become independent- to live a normal life as best as
possible.

The little incident I wrote about yesterday was a part of
this picture- it was manipulation.

Things kids do- not adults.

I will go out today and have a full day- I will make my last
video for the trip- and leave early in the morning.

Talk to you later.

TUESDAY NIGHT- Danny gave me a nice gift today- 2 nice pens-
he had them for 35 years. I told Danny that even though he claims to be an
atheist- yet God used him in many ways.

I got a whistle from Danny [represents sound/voice- part of
the teaching I’m doing- video].

Many of the comments- things that happened- were indeed
prophetic.

Yesterday he told me he had a gift for me if I saw him
today- I wasn’t sure if I would leave this morning- but decided I’d stay till
tonight.

But- he knew I wanted to trade for a ring- but I thought I
already have a ring given to me by my old friend Jim- and figured if he offered
me a ring I was going to say ‘keep it till I see you again’.

Instead he gave me the pens- I was just talking about a
verse to someone this past week ‘My tongue is the pen of a ready writer’.

Meaning? The things you write and speak will have impact-
yeah- I took the pens.

Danny asked me some stuff about the bible- as I sat and
quoted [like I have done all thru the trip] he said ‘You do something strange-
when you quote the bible in these talks- I see your face- it’s like you go into
a trance’.

He said ‘it’s like you’re actually reading/seeing the pages
as you speak’.

I told Danny I don’t ‘see’ the pages- but I am ‘bringing’
them up from memory.

Jesus said ‘The Holy Spirit will bring all things to your
remembrance’.

I had a long talk with Paul about addiction- the meaning of
life- we talked for quite a while.

I told the guys the other day that I will be leaving
Thursday.

Now- I only changed it by one day- didn’t even think they
would notice.

So- as I was talking to Billy I said ‘yeah- wanted to see
you guys before I leave in the morning’ he said ‘Todays only Tuesday- you’re
not leaving till Thursday’.

I was surprised he remembered.

I said ‘I’ll see you next time’.

As he walked away he said ‘I’m bummed- that’s not till
another 10 months’.

I share this to let you see that I do see these guys as
friends- and they mostly see me the same way.

Why is this important? They do indeed see/hear all the stuff
I’m teaching- quoting- and it’s not coming from a ‘forced’ thing- that is when
you become a ‘friend’ of sinners [what they accused Jesus of] then you do have
influence.

Danny asked me one day ‘do you think Billy will ever change-
he’s a lost cause’.

I told him ‘honestly- no’ But I did tell him the story of a
Texas friend and said he did change- and was as ‘hopeless’ as Billy.

So- at the end of this trip- I had a good time.

I’ll see my Texas friends next week- and God willing I’ll be
back in North Bergen- well- the next time I simply decide to jump in the car
and go.

Note- Do me a favor, those who
read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read
them on. Thanks- John. Don’t forget to scroll down on the timeline [FaceBook#]
- I have posted lots. visit- ccoutreach87.wordpress.com- my radio shows.

Me at the homeless mission

About Me

I am a Fire Fighter living in Corpus Christi Texas [retired after 25 years] Married with 4 girls. And lots of cats![my daughter said it sounds like I have 4 wives. I am married and have 4 daughters]
johnchiarello@hotmail.com